Week 56: Elders and Hermanas, When It Comes Time to Choose a Spouse, There May Not Always Be a Right Choice, Just a Choice!

5 Questions:

1) How is the corn doing?  haven't seen a photo in a while.

2) Can you begin to feel the change in seasons yet?  Do you need your winter stuff sent?  Perhaps, if she agrees, I can send it to you while you live near Sister Walters.  ;)

3) do you read the scriptures in Spanish for your study time?  What have you noticed about them that is different than they are in English?  IS there any difference?

4) Did you get your investigator to church to see/hear the Women's Session of conference?  Wasn't it great?!?  I loved Pres Uchtdorf's story about Great Aunt Rose.

5) Do you have transfers coming soon?  Are you worried you'll go?  or worried you'll stay?

1. It's doing well. Getting pretty gold looking. At least the ones that haven't been harvested. We keep watching for someone to be harvesting while we're driving around so we can take a picture with the harvest, but no luck yet.
2. Just a little bit. I don't need winter stuff yet though. I've got some cardigans I can layer with, plus some scarves. So I'll be fine for this month or so I think. If not, I'll let you know. I would imagine you can probably just mail it near the end of October, when transfers are, and just mail it to the office. Then I'll for sure get it and I don't think it'll be too cold before then. I'll let you know if I change my mind though.
3. Well, during our hour of personal  study, I study in English usually. Sometimes I'll study Preach My Gospel in Spanish to make sure I've got all the words I'll need in my head, but I've pretty much mastered the Gospel words I would say. But then during our hour of language study, for 20 minutes we read the Book of Mormon out loud together in Spanish, to practice reading Spanish, hearing and understanding Spanish, and saying the slightly weird scripture language in Spanish. During the 20 minutes that my companion studies grammar, sometimes I read out of the seminary and institute manuals in Spanish and find quotes to write and put in my scriptures. Sometimes I read from the dictionary and find words that are more common in Mexico or in Latin America, or sometimes I study grammar that I haven't studied for a while and want to brush up on.
4. Unfortunately, we didn't get any investigators to women's conference. We almost did, but things came up. However, yes it was amazing! haha it was kind of funny though. So we got there a bit late because one of the sisters we carpooled with was running a bit late. And then during the second speaker, a lady from the stake Relief Society presidency came up to us and was like "Are you Spanish sisters?" When we nodded yes, she said "Why aren't you watching this with the Spanish speakers? There are three sisters back there and I don't know who they are--if they're members or investigators. You need to go be with them." So, we did. Luckily, I've watched some conference things in Spanish before and I am pretty good at understanding anything relating to the Gospel. But my poor companion. She said she understood some but not enough to get much out of it. So we'll be watching it again as soon as we can, but this time in English. My favorite talk was Sister McConkie's. Oh my goodness. You could just hear the passion in her voice! We are all involved in the cause of Christ, as baptized members of His Church. But it's still up to us if we are going to fulfill our duties or not--and receive the promised blessings or not.
5. Transfers are the end of October. I believe the 27th. And I'm not worried about staying or leaving because I don't think about it until the Saturday before transfers when I have no choice but to think about it. I don't like contemplating what might or might not happen because I'm here until I'm here, and I'm here to work. So that's what I do.

Well. Where do I begin...

So first off, Mother, please do not be alarmed. Everything is fine now. Okay? Keep that in mind..

So on Monday we went to help a recent convert and her family out because they're remodeling their house. All we did was move pieces of wood from one side of the yard to the backyard so they could be picked up and thrown away. But the problem was they had nails all over in them, so we had to be careful. And for one brief moment, I wasn't careful enough. I stepped on a nail. Now, I haven't done a whole lot of painful things in my life so I think my pain tolerance must be pretty low. And oh my goodness did that hurt! Almost immediately my foot was gushing blood. I was just gonna push through the pain and keep going but that was not going to happen. I felt like I'd walked through a swamp my sock was so soggy. Luckily we'd basically finished everything so we told our convert that we had to leave and got out of their. We called Sister Griffin and she instructed us what to do so we did what she said. We had a random reusable plastic bag in our car so I put my foot in that and applied pressure after taking my shoe off. We get home and I sat on the counter with my foot soaking in the sink. And I honestly felt like Moses for a few minutes--I turned the water to blood. But anyway, long story short, I'm basically 100% now and I hardly even limp anymore. haha so that's good. The moral of my grandpa's life is now becoming mine: "God protects the stupid".

On Tuesday we taught a new couple and the hermano was seriously super into it. It was awesome! It was also one of the best restoration lessons I've ever taught. Hermana Henricksen and I, it took us a long time, but we finally are teaching with a lot of unity and the Spirit is always super awesome when we do. It was one of the most powerfully spiritual lessons of my mission I'd say. It was awesome.

Wednesday, we were somewhat rebuked in district meeting (all the district, not just us) because we haven't been doing very good talking to everyone. So we decided again that we were going to do it. And we did! And literally only one person even accepted a card! But hey, we knew we were doing what we needed to be doing. And I believe, because of that, we were led to a couple that had previously been taught and we literally taught at least one principle from each of the five lessons. It was crazy and super awesome! Oh man. Loved it. I'm excited to keep teaching them. 

Thursday was crazy, as always. But we finally got all thirteen steps of weekly planning done in 3 hours! The struggle has been so real because we haven't been able to finish the last step (companionship inventory) in the three hours so we always ended up doing it during dinner or after nightly planning in the evening. But we finally did it! Also, I realized I've learned a lot throughout this past year about controlling my emotions. It only took me twenty years but I think I'm finally beginning to get the hang of it! You'd be so proud, Mom.

Friday we talked to three men in about the space of an hour and taught each of them different things. The first looked nothing like the kind of person who would accept a card with a picture of Jesus but in the end he ended up accepting a copy of the Book of Mormon! He was awesome, and kind of reminded me of Grandpa Dale a bit. haha he was fun to talk to. The next man was walking a dog (his name was Patches) and he is absolutely convinced that the Bible teaches that once we die our body will rot and return to the earth, never to be taken up again. We taught and testified of the Atonement and the Resurrection, but he wasn't having any of it. He kept talking about all these things from the Book of Revelation and I'm pretty sure he was just confusing himself. I am so so so grateful for continuing revelation and for a prophet of God on the earth today. Of course it's important to know the scriptures, but it's also important to listen to the prophet who receives revelation for the welfare of God's children in our days. And finally the next man was basically just Bible bashing the whole time. We testified and testified and testified until we were blue in the face (practically) of the prophet Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. But, because he'd studied about "Mormon" doctrine (honestly, it's not Mormon doctrine, it's God's doctrine, but that's besides the point) he was convinced that he could befuddle us. He even accused of of being "deceived by false teachers", of which it warns in the Bible. Well I'm here to tell him and all of you reading this that I, Hermana DeBuck, have not been deceived by false teachers. I know by the very power of God that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I also know that there is literally no other way to receive eternal life without the priesthood, which was restored to the earth by God through Joseph Smith so that each and every one of God's children could receive all the ordinances of salvation--not just baptism. I know it, and I know that God knows it, and I cannot deny it.

Saturday we were in an area and had literally no idea what to do. So after we prayed, the thought came to mind that we should try some former investigators. So we looked at the list of people in that town and picked one, named Ida. We went and realized we'd met her husband, Jose, a week or two ago. When he answered the door, right away he told us "Oh good! My wife wants to talk with you!" Family and friends, that was one of the best moments of my mission. We were able to have a lesson about the power of the Atonement, covering topics ranging from breaking the habit of swearing to the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith. It was truly amazing. I am so excited for this couple. I know that now they're ready to progress more than they have before.

Saturday was also the women's conference, but I believe I already wrote about that. Suffice it to say here that the conference was amazing.

Sunday we knocked the house of a potential neither of us had ever met and were greeted by a high school-aged young woman who actually does believe that it would be beneficial to have more of God's word. Well of course! She seems really open and she told us she wasn't sure but thought her family would be open as well. We're planning on teaching them this evening and I am really excited.

As far as my own personal progress goes, yesterday morning during my personal study, I was feeling a bit down. Have been for the past little bit. But then I read Helaman 10:4. And I felt like Heavenly Father was talking directly to me. Because I wonder a lot if He is actually pleased with what I do as a missionary. And this morning, the resounding answer was YES! The second half of that message from the verse was that I need to "fear not" the people. I just need to open my mouth and let it be filled! And it's rather appropriate that yesterday was the first day of the week and of this reporting period--I couldn't ask for a better day to recommit myself to be exactly obedient and just talk to everyone. And so, although the work has continued not exactly as we would have liked the whole time I've been here, I know I'm learning from my mistakes and striving to be better. And that's really the only thing that matters.

The Gospel is true. The priesthood is restored. The Book of Mormon is evidence that God loves all His children. Joseph Smith was the prophet called from the beginning of time to restore the truth to the earth in this last dispensation. Thomas S. Monson is God's chosen prophet on the earth today. We are so blessed to hear him and all the chosen vessels of the Lord speak every six months. This weekend, I invite you all to write down a question that you would like God Himself to answer, and then as you listen to the speakers, pay close attention to what the Spirit tells you. I promise you that you will receive an answer to your question, no matter what the question may be. If you will listen to the Spirit, He will tell you what you need and want to know.

Love, 

Tu Hija y Amiga,

Hermana DeBuck

Fotos:

1) A picture of my foot, after we'd washed off all the blood and whatnot. It looks like I just scraped myself or something....I promise it was a lot cooler looking before we washed it. But I wasn't really thinking about taking pictures:

 

2)  We found this tiny saw with a face on it and it was just too adorable not to take a picture of. (Don't mind the crazy eyes...)

                                             



3)  I've decided that one goal of my mission is to find a ginkgo tree in each area. Finally found one in Rochelle--and it was huge!
                                           

4) Also, you'll be happy to know that I actually learned something all those years at Girls Camp: found some Lamb's Ear growing out of the sidewalk of a member's home! How cool! Now if only I could remember what poison ivy looked like... 

 5) Here's the corn picture, as requested:

 

Week 28: Apparently My Morning Face Looks Somewhat Murderous

5 Questions: 

1) What do you mean about iPads "finally knowing"?  I've not heard anything.  Are you going to be purchasing your iPad?  How soon do we need to have the money in your account?  Where would I have heard this news?

2) What aversion do you have to treats?  I didn't think I'd sent so much.

3) Are there any other tops/skirts we want sent?  I noticed your minty missionary skirt is in the closet in your room.  Do you want that one or the camel/tan one?

4) Did I tell you Vitaly G. was just called to your mission?  I can't remember.  He's headed to the MTC in July.

5) Any more thoughts on sending home winter gear?  I think that might be the easiest way to deal with your clothes.

Did you not get an email from the mission....? Because you should have.... I'll talk to the office missionaries and make sure that they've got the right email for you.....cause....yeah. Basically, I don't know the answers to any of the questions you asked about the iPads so hopefully that email does.

2. I guess I don't have an aversion to treats at all. haha they're fine. Last week I think I was feeling sick and didn't think about the repercussions of asking you not to send treats ever again. 

3. I would love both of those skirts. Basically, I'm realizing that the majority of my clothing is very winter/cold-weather appropriate. And what with the humidity here, I'm imagining that I will want some lighter clothing here pretty soon....but at this point I can't remember what exactly I left so I'm afraid I can't give you specifics. 

4. Yes you did. And this last week, on Tuesday, I talked to Elder B who is also from PG. I told him another one just got called to our mission, and he was pretty excited. haha

5. I guess I could send it home...what would be the best way to do that?

First off, before I forget, next week I won't email on Monday, but on Tuesday. WE'RE GOING TO THE TEMPLE!!!! So P-day will be on Tuesday. We are so excited. Once again, it is a blessed dispensation/transfer so we get to go to the Nauvoo temple. I can't even tell you how stoked I am. For everyone reading this who has a temple within three hours of their home, GO! You don't realize how much you love the temple until you're a missionary and you're only allowed to go every three transfers. Just sayin'.

Second, I'm not sure what to say about this week.

I'm still learning, every day, every week, that I am an imperfect being and I make the same mistakes over and over again. And part of the repentance process is forsaking your sins--abandoning them. But, Heavenly Father will NEVER give up on us. No matter how many times I mess up, He will always be there, ready to give me another chance. And we are SO blessed to have that opportunity, and the knowledge of that opportunity. The Atonement truly is the greatest event that has ever happened in the entire history of the world. It touches the greatest amount of people--everyone who has lived, is living, or will yet live--and lasts for the longest amount of time--forever. It is an infinite sacrifice (Alma 34:11); it applies in every single moment of every single person's life on the earth.

There is nothing we can do that will make that gift not there. It has always been available and will always be available. But, it is up to us to accept that gift and to utilize it in our lives. We have been given our agency, the ability to choose, and God will not force anything upon us--including the one thing that will bring us back to Him. It is up to us to apply the healing power of the Atonement and come unto Christ, with full purpose of heart (2 Nephi 31:13), willing to give up our sins and turn to Christ with a perfect brightness of hope (2 Nephi 31:20). And I know that is true. He wants us to come back to Him, and He will do everything in His power to bring us back--as long as we let Him. It is my hope that each of may evaluate our lives and do everything we can each day to "try a little harder to be a littler better" (President Gordon B. Hinckley).

I love the restored of Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know it is the one thing that brings us thee most happiness in life, and I know God will not force it upon us. Each of us must choose to take it into our hearts and truly live it in order to receive each and every one of the promised blessings that Heavenly Father has for us.

Todo Mi Amor,

Tu Hija y Amiga,

Hermana DeBuck

Week 26: It's Official: I've Become My Mother

5 Questions:

1)    Do you remember taking a tour of USU before deciding to go there?  Or did you decide to go there and then tour the campus?  I couldn't remember this weekend, as Cameron has decided and we finally got to go tour it. 

2)    Any memory of what kind of "fun money" budget you had at school last year?

3)    Did you remember it was Dad's birthday this past week?  He loved the book--and has been reading it all weekend.

4)    Can you believe Daylight Savings Time is beginning NEXT Sunday already?!?

5)    What is your typical procedure to send photos/email to us each P-Day?  Where do you go?  How long do you have?

Those are some good lookin' parents! Glad to see Dad still can't smile when a camera is near, but at least he's looking at the lens. Baby steps right? haha and momma your glasses make you look extra smart! I mean, not that you need any help....haha it always was a little weird getting a new prescription of glasses for me too. Takes some getting used to.

1. I think I had already decided because it was going to be the cheapest option for me. Then we went in the spring for SOAR or whatever it was. I think I did tour U of U before I decided though...just because we were already in Salt Lake or something. Clearly it didn't really affect my decision.

2. In reality, I don't think I gave myself a budget. I started out with one, but I don't think I stuck with it--I know, it's terrible. Basically I didn't spend a ton of money except for on food; that was almost everything. If we went to dinner as roommates or something, I didn't have a problem with that. I think I just limited it to once a week MAX. And just tried to be conscientious of my money. Sorry that doesn't help a ton.

3. I remembered it was Dad's birthday on Dad's birthday because it's on the calendar. Unfortunately I couldn't do much about it the day of....so HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAPI!! Glad you like the book. I'll be honest, when I bought it, I had relatively little idea what it was actually about. So I'm glad it's handy and not useless.

4. No. It feels like just last month was Daylight Savings....because it messes up our Area Book Planner app. And it feels like that just happened...but I guess not.

5. Usually we go to the church in the afternoon, around 2 or so, because we've finished cleaning and shopping and laundry and whatnot. Today is different though, which I will talk about more later on.

First off, this week I turned into a complete sobbing blubbering baboon. And while there are multiple causes for this outcome, there is only one I will be mentioning at this time: I have been so very prideful. And it's gotten me into trouble, and will continue to do so unless I do something about it.

Hence, I have done quite a bit of self-evaluation. And I have come to a variety of conclusions:
1. I have terrible communication skills, and the way in which I do manage to communicate is not a way people are used to.

2. I detest making decisions, which is in fact a life skill. Ergo, I need to develop said skill.

3. I need to be more humble. I need to accept when I am in the wrong, accept the constructive criticism and run with it, apply it. I need to be willing to change and improve so that I can be the missionary Heavenly Father wants me to be.
4. I need to stop taking things so personally; this would avoid a lot of confusion.
5. I need to show more emotion so that I can be properly understood. [Remember when Grandma and Grandpa gave me my Escort for my birthday? And Grandpa thought I didn't like it? yeah, that's basically what happens. I truly am excited but I don't do a very good job of acting like it....sorry again Grandpa.]
6. I need to forget myself and go to work--24/7. If I do this, everything else will (hypothetically) fall into place.

As you can tell, this is quite the list. And becoming humble--for me--is quite the process. So I'm beginning with just one of these issues and hopefully the rest will follow. Until that time, there will
most likely be continued confusion and irritation. And I'm not sure what else I can do about it. I guess only time will tell.

On a happier note, Bishop found Mary's membership record number! What a miracle. Now the process to get her re-baptized will get going, I think. She was so excited to tell us. It was awesome.

We have seen so many miracles already! I think I said that last week, but it's still true! Hermana Araujo is an amazing missionary, and just wants to work hard. It's inspiring, really. I've been thinking that I have been SO blessed to have such old (with regard to the mission) companions. Because when it gets down to crunch time, all they want to do is work. And of course I want to as well, but with companions like this it's just so much better. I can't really explain it.

This morning, while studying, I found this scripture, in Proverbs 28:25:
He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat.

So the goal is, by the end of my mission, to be fat. Maybe this is one reason so many missionaries put on weight while serving. They're just putting their trust in the Lord! haha (but for real)

I know the Gospel's true! If it wasn't, you can bet I wouldn't be here freezing my body parts off. But it is. Joseph Smith is a prophet called of God, and through him Christ restored His true Church to the earth once more. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and allows us to know more fully our Elder Brother and Savior. I receive strength every day as I study from its pages, and I know you can too. I know that through the Atonement, we truly can be made perfect and become at one with God--we just have to put forth a little effort first, and He'll make up the rest. I love this Gospel and I wouldn't be me without it.

Todo Mi Amor,

Tu Hija y Amiga,

Hermana DeBuck